How far would you go to enjoy a cigarette? In this witty black comedy, Laurain’s anti-hero can only make smoking pleasurable by committing the ultimate crime…

Description

How far would you go to enjoy a cigarette? In this witty black comedy, Laurain’s anti-hero can only make smoking pleasurable by committing the ultimate crime…

When head-hunter Fabrice Valentine faces a smoking ban at work, he decides to undertake a course of hypnotherapy to rid himself of the habit. At first the treatment works, but his stress levels begin to rise when he is passed over for an important promotion and he finds himself lighting up again – but with none of his previous enjoyment.

Until he discovers something terrible: he accidentally causes a man’s death, and needing a cigarette to calm his nerves, he enjoys it more than any other previous smoke. What if he now needs to kill every time he wants to properly appreciate his next Benson and Hedges?

Praise for The President’s Hat:

‘A hymn to la vie Parisienne…enjoy it for its fabulistic narrative, and the way it teeters pleasantly on the edge of Gallic whimsy.’ The Guardian

Praise for The Red Notebook:

‘Resist this novel if you can; it’s the very quintessence of French romance’ The Times

‘Soaked in Parisian atmosphere, this lovely, clever, funny novel will have you rushing to the Eurostar post-haste… A gem.’ Daily Mail

Meet the author

Antoine Laurain is a novelist, screenwriter, journalist, director and collector of antique keys. He is the author of the best-selling novels The President’s Hat and The Red Notebook. A truly born and bread Parisian, after studying film, he began his career directing short films and writing screenpla…